The present invention proposes a process for purifying raw carbon nanotubes to obtain an content in metallic impurities comprised between 5 ppm and 200 ppm. The process includes an increase in the bulk density of the raw carbon nanotubes via compacting to produce compacted carbon nanotubes. The process further includes sintering the compacted carbon nanotubes by undergoing thermal treatment under gaseous atmosphere in order to remove at least a portion of the metallic impurities contained in the raw carbon nanotubes, and consequently producing purified carbon nanotubes. These purified carbon nanotubes are directly usable as electronic conductors serving as basis additive to an electrode material without requiring any subsequent purification step. The electrode material can then be used to manufacture an electrode destined to a lithium-ion battery.

The present invention relates to a positive electrode active material having improved electrical characteristics by adjusting an aspect ratio gradient of primary particles included in a secondary particle, a positive electrode including the positive electrode active material, and a lithium secondary battery using the positive electrode.

A catalyst includes at least one element X selected from the group consisting of Groups 3 to 6 of the Periodic Table, and at least one element Z selected from the group consisting of Group 14 elements. The catalyst is flaky and has pores in a thickness direction. A catalyst that is capable of suppressing an overreaction to a polymer and producing a diene compound, particularly butadiene, at a high yield can be provided.

A carbon nanotube (CNT) hybrid material that includes a blend comprising a catalyst supported on at least one of a metal, metalloid, metal oxide or carbon support, and at least one material selected from the group of materials consisting of: cementitious materials, materials used in the production of cementitious materials, and materials used to enhance cementitious materials, and CNT on the blend.

A fixing belt includes: a base having an endless shape; and a resin layer covering a surface on an inner peripheral side of the base, the resin layer comprising a resin and a filler, and having a second surface opposite to a first surface facing the base, the second surface having cell structures, and being roughened with the filler. When arithmetic mean roughnesses of the second surface in the central region X and the end regions Y and Z are defined as RaX, RaY and RaZ respectively, a difference between RaX and RaY, a difference between RaY and RaZ, and a difference between RaX and RaZ are all 0.1 μm or smaller, and a coefficient of variation of areas of the cell structures contained in each of the central region X, and end regions Y and Z is 25% or smaller.

A titanium-niobium oxide achieves suppressed adulteration with TiO.sub.2 and Ti.sub.2Nb.sub.10O.sub.29 and suppressed growth of crystal grains, and an electrode and a lithium-ion secondary cell include such a titanium-niobium oxide. The titanium-niobium oxide contains less than 0.30 at % of an alkali metal element and at least one element selected from the group consisting of Al, Y, La, Ce, Pr, and Sm. A ratio of thea total atomic weight of Al, Y, La, Ce, Pr, and Sm to thea total atomic weight of Ti and Nb is equal to or more than 0.001.

The present disclosure provides a method for producing elongated non-entangled nanotube filaments using a vertical upward flow floating catalyst chemical vapor deposition system.

Provided is a white pigment for cosmetics capable of giving a cosmetic that gives a coating film having less stickiness and higher long-lasting properties. A white pigment for cosmetics of the present invention includes a titanium phosphate powder, the titanium phosphate powder includes crystal particles of titanium phosphate, and a ratio (oil absorption value/specific surface area) of an oil absorption value (ml/100 g) to a specific surface area (m.sup.2/g) of the crystal particles is 2.0 or more.

A method is disclosed for producing flakes of a first material, the method comprising: a) supporting two supply cylinders of the first material and a fatiguing rod assembly, that includes at least one textured fatiguing rod, so that each fatiguing rod is sandwiched between the two cylinders, each fatiguing rod having a diameter smaller than an initial diameter of the two supply cylinders and being made of a second harder material; b) urging the surfaces of the two supply cylinders into contact with each fatiguing rod; and c) causing the supply cylinders and the fatiguing rod(s) to rotate while making rolling line contact with one another; wherein the supply cylinders and each fatiguing rod are urged against one another with sufficiently high contact pressure to modify the surface of the supply cylinders by fatigue and result in separation of flakes from the surfaces of the cylinders.

Provided are a method for producing boehmite nanoparticles and an apparatus for producing the same, and more particularly, a method for producing boehmite nanoparticles and an apparatus for producing the same, which allow continuous production of nano-sized boehmite nanoparticles in a uniform size. The method for producing boehmite nanoparticles includes (S1) supplying a mixture including an aluminum hydroxide and an organic acid to a reaction unit; and (S2) heating and pressurizing the mixture supplied to the reaction unit simultaneously and sequentially.